Banjo



Aug- 6, 1929- E. A. sTnTHoPoULo 1,723,818

BANJO liled Jan. 24. 1925 Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES EPAMINONDAS A. STATHOPOULO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BANJO.

Application led January This intention relates to musical instrumentsand pertains more particularly to stringed instruments of the banjotype.

lit is an object oi' this invention to provide an instrument which willproduce an improved tone quality. It is a further object ot theinvention to provide an instrument which shall be strong` and durableand yet sin-:ple in construction.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

A prelerred embodiment ot the invention selected ttor purposes otillustration is shown in the accom panving drawings7 in which,

Figure. 1 is a top plan View ot a banjo part ol the head being brokenaway to better illustrate the construction of certain parts,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 oli` Fig- Y rring to the drawings,the main frame 1 oit the instrument con'iprises an annular rim which ispreferably built up as shown in the drawings oit a ser is of strips orlaminations 2 glued or otherwise 'fastened together in the usual manner.Resting on the upper edge of the main trame 1 is an annular metal ring 3which may be referred to as the tone chamber casting. This casting whichforms one wall oilE the tone chamber 4 Vis provided with a series ofradial openings 5 which permit iree passage to and from the tone chamberof the sound waves created when the instrument is played. Between theopenings 5 are provided a series of shoulders 6 on which the annularring T is adapted to rest.

tourroundine the upper portion of the main frame 1 and preferablyreplacing the upper portion of the outer lamination 2 thereof is a metalband 8 which projects upwardly above the upper edge ot the main trame asillustrated to form the outer wall of the tone chamber f1. Radialprojections 9 formed in the casting 3 project outwardly to contact withthe metal band 8 for a purpose hereinafter described. Immediately belowthe lower edge of the metal band 8 and Contactin therewith for a purposehereinafter explained is a bracket band l() ot metal surrounding themain frame and preferably inset` as shown, into the body ot the mainframe as by cutting away a portion of the outer laminations.

The head 11 is mounted over the annular ring T and the upper edge of themetal band S and the edges thereof are fastened in the usual 24, 1925.serial No. 4,360.

manner to the flesh hoop 12 above which is mounted the usual straininghoop 13. The usual hooks 14 are provided to stretch the head, thesehooks passing through suitable openings in the bracket band 10.

A tone reflector is provided at the back oit the instrument comprising ashallow concave back 15 and a rim 16. The upper side of the rim 16 isgroored to form a shoulder 17 into which the outer edge ot the bracketband 10 is adapted to seat. The tone reflector may be conwfnienllyattached to the instruniient by mains oi: bolts 18 which pass upwardlj7through the openings 19 formed in the bracket band and having on theirouter ends thumb screws Q0.

Then the instrument is played as by causing vibration ot the strings 21,corresponding vila-ations are set up in the head 11 which, transmitte-1l to the outer air, provide the characteristic banjo tone. It hasbeen found a ditlicult problem to provide a banjo which will produce asweet and mellow tone without the undesirable c"tinny'" qualitytrequently observed and still provide suicient body or tone Volume sothat thel instrument can be heard when played in conjunction with otherinstruments as in an orchestra.

In the present embodiment the provision oit' the metal band 8 contactingdirectly with the head and also contacting directly at its other endwith the bracket band 10, which, in turn supports the tone reflector,has been lound to solve this problem satisfactorily for the instrumentproduces a tone possessing body, or that penetratire quality whichcauses it to heard when played with other instruments; yet theundesirable tinny7 quality is lacking. l

The tone reflector i5, as its name implies, retiects the sound wavesproduced by the head outwardly through the openings 19 in the bracketband. These sound wares may either be produced by the main portion ofthe head 11 or by that portion covering tone chamber The vibrations soproduced are transmitted through the ring 7 to the casting 3 and thencethrough radial projections 9 to the metal band 8 and thence through thebracket band 10 to the tone reflector which serres to amplify andtransmit them to the outer air. In addition vibrations pass directlyfrom the portion ot the head covering the tone chamber 4 to the metalband S and thence as before to the tone reliector. It Will be observedthat in each case a direct metallic connection is provided through Whichvibrations may be transmitted from the head` to the tone reflector.These vibrations so transmitted are modified by the Wooden rim whichalso transmits some oitx the vibrations to such extent that the tinnyquality ordinarily associated With all metal banjos is lacking, but atthe same time the tone produced has adequate body.

rilhe sum total otl the sound Waves and vibrations thus producedcreates" the composite Wave which is transmitted to the ear.

It is to be understood that the invention may be variously modified andembodied Within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as iny invention:

l. In a banjo having the usual head and strings, in combination, aWooden main frame, a tone reiiector, and means including a metal band ofsubstantial thickness surroundinG' the main 'trame providing a directmetallic connection between the head and tone reflector for the transnission et sound vibrations.

2. In a banjo having the usual head and strings, in combination, a.Wooden main frame, a tone reflector, and means including a metal band ofsubstantial thickness surrounding` the main trame, and a metal bracketband also surrounding` said traine, said bands having abutting Surfaces,providing a continuous metallic connect-ion between the head and tonereflector for the transmission of sound vibrations.

3. In a banjo having the usual head and strings, in combination, aWooden `main frame, a metal band surrounding the main frame, an annularmetallic ring seated on 40 said main frame, said ring being providedWith radial projections contacting With said metall band, a metalbracket band also surrounding' said main Jtrarne, a tone reflector, andmeans to secure said tone reflector to said bracket band, saidmetal'band, annular metallic ring and metallic bracket band providing acontinuous metallic connect-ion between the head and tone reflector;

4. in a banjo having the usual head, strain4 50 ing hooks and strings,in combination, a main frame, a straining hook carried thereby, ametallic bracket band surrounding said frame, said hoop being engaged byone end of said straining hooks and said band providingl an anchoringmeans for the other end of said straining hooks.

5. ln a. banjo having` the usual head, straining hooks and strings, incombination,

a main iframe, a metallic bracket band surrounding said frame, said bandproviding an anchoring means for said straining hooks, a tone reilector,and means for securing said ltone reiector to said bracket band, saidbracket band being provided with sound openings.

6. In a banjo having the usual head, straining hooks and strings, incombination, a main frame having a groove therein, a metallic bracketband surrounding said frame and 7D positioned in said groove, said bandproviding an anchoring means for said straining hooks.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciiication this22nd day of 75 January, 1925.

EPAMINONDAS A. STATHOPOULO.

